Towards a century at the heart of Connacht rugby

Author: Gadmin (Page 1 of 9)

Joe Agbo, from Wegians to Bucharest

Tell us about your rugby career in Romania?

I signed my first contract over here in November 2020 at a team called Dinamo Bucharest. I made my debut for them that same month in a cup semi-final which we unfortunately lost. I came off the bench and gave a try assist and got a late hit and tore my ACL and meniscus which had me off the field for 19 months.

Tell us about  your recent episode with Wegians?

My contract ended in December 2022 so came back to Wegians to find the love of the game again. I did, playing in the 2022/2023 season for the Blues and in summer 2023 signed to my current club Rapid București. 

Tell us about your current team?

Rapid București are a very young team, more so a project made up of only Romanian qualified players made to grow the youth, because the youth system here fails the younger players as there’s not much funding for the grassroots clubs.

For most of these boys it was their first time playing a senior game and they did exceptional. We’re being coached by two Romanian rugby legends Stelian Burcea, former captain and centurion, and Florin Vlaicu, who currently holds the records for the most caps for Romania and most points with over 1000 scored in international games.

On the players side of things we have some great players with experience with us on the field to help the younger lads grow such as Florin Bardasu and Alexandru Savin who are currently national front rows and have been a great part in our team, and another centurion Florin Surugiu who is arguably the best scrum half Romania ever had.

International Aspirations?

I haven’t made my first senior cap yet but I’ve been in and out of the camps and hopefully soon it will happen.

Throughout the camps I’ve been learning from some great coaches such as current head coach David Gerard Benjamin Lapeyre and former Portugal head coach Patrice Lagisquet

What does Galwegians mean to you?

Wegians will always have a special place in my heart, I was welcomed when I started in U13s all the way up to when I came back from my spell in Romania.

A special shout-out to my underage coaches Niall Beatty, Pat Surlis and Eamonn Hornibrook who always pushed me to my potential and made me the player I am today. No matter what problems I had on or off the pitch, they always stuck by me and treated me as their own.

No matter how long I play abroad, Wegians is and always will be the place I call home.

Meet Molina Oung

Where are you from?

I’m originally from the States, Cape Cod Massachusetts. 

When & why did you come to Ireland?

I moved to Ireland in October of 2019, right before Covid. I wanted to experience living abroad as I have family in Germany, it helped being a dual passport holder and being able to work anywhere in the EU. 

Your Career?

I currently work in cybersecurity but also have side gigs in art, social media management and photography/videograohy 

When did you first play rugby?

I actually joined rugby in 2020 right after I moved to Ireland! I used to play tennis for my university and missed playing in a team sport and wanted to make new friends.

Why join Wegians?

Wegians because I always used to pass by the club house and the location was always central to town!

Your Position?

I’ve played many positions, wing, centre, flanker, second row, scrum half … but after so many serious injuries as a centre, a comeback as scrum half is looking more favourable haha. 

Best game or favourite memory?

Probably one of my first games back after breaking my leg. I finally felt the most fit I had been in a while and being able to play again after such a serious injury was such an achievement for me. 

Biggest influence on your rugby/career??

My teammates! They inspire me to be a better player! 

Unluckiest thing in rugby?

I unfortunately broke my leg around my ankle pretty badly October 2022. Dislocated fracture to the fibula and tibia and needed surgery, a plate and 7 screws total. Then more recently I broke my 2nd metatarsal October 2024 in my other right foot. Both times I played number 13 so maybe it’s time I retire this jersey and vow to never play during the month of October.

Other Volunteer Roles in the Club?

I started out managing the women’s social media in 2021. I helped as well later on the men’s side and for the youths. I also volunteer a lot of my time in other aspects of the club like minis, fundraisers, etc. anything to see the success of the club! 

Best thing about Galwegians – why should someone join?

My friends and family I’ve created from joining! I wouldn’t trade them for the world. 

Other hobbies?

Tennis, art, photography, videography

Craziest team mate?

Stacy Hanley

Most annoying??

Stacy Hanley 

Most inspiring?

I’m going to have to say Nicole Fowley! She’s such an inspiration representing Galwegians and all the girls in the West of Ireland as she kits out for Ireland! COYGIG!

Best sense of humour team-mate?

Stacy Hanley takes the stage again for this one lol

Meet Ellen Connolly

Ellen Connolly

Where are you from?

Castlegar, Galway 

School?

Mercy Secondary School, Galway City

Career?

Youth Worker in Galway 

When did your start playing rugby?

Started playing rugby in 2016 when I was in college in Athlone, I had played camogie growing up but my friends in college convinced me to switch to the oval ball, I was told it was way more craic so it was an easy sell for them!!

When did you join Wegians and Why?

I joined wegians in 2019  when I had moved back to Galway from college. I was hooked at that stage so I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop playing after college and my brother, Cormac, who has sadly passed away played for Wegians when he was in secondary school so joining Wegians made sense for me!

Position?

Prop. Best position on the pitch too, obviously!

Toughest opponent ever?

Niamh O’ Dowd. When she tackles you, you won’t forget it!

Role model or rugby hero? 

Hope Rogers. Loose head prop for Exeter Chiefs and USA. An absolute powerhouse of a player and the skills to match 

Hardest working team mate or best in training ?

All the players on the pitch every week are putting the work in but the player working the hardest at the moment is our very own team manager Dearbhla Canty who is grinding it out in the gym rehabbing her knee from ACL surgery, so everyone should beware because she’s going to come back stronger than ever!

Ambitions for the season?

We have a lot of new players to the squad this year and some of our seasoned players lining out in new positions so we are really looking to develop and learn to perform together this year! The new additions to the team have been great and are driving standards throughout the squad. We started the season with a home win against Ballincollig but as a team we knew we could perform better than we did which unfortunately we didn’t back up with a tough loss on the road to Wicklow but we regrouped and knew what we had to do and came out with a great team performance and solid win at home against Cooke last weekend. The team will be hoping to build on this for the rest of the season and continue to put out the performances we know we are capable of!

Impressions of Jack Clarke and the new coaching ticket?

We have been very lucky this year to have Jack come in as head coach, he has brought great knowledge to the team and has created a really positive atmosphere in the squad. As well as Jack we have Tony, Dave, Oisin and Ciaran who have really listened to the players and have brought great experience in training!

Teammate with the best and worst dress sense?

Best Dressed:  Katherine Mahon is always looking stylish no matter what the occasion!

Worst Dressed: GBM. She knew this was coming haha!

Best and worst taste in music?

Best Taste: Our new resident DJ is Sophie Cullen. She always knows what to play to get everyone pumped!

Worst Taste: Ines Delgado. We don’t know the words to her songs from Argentina so can’t sing along, which doesn’t go down well in the clubhouse haha!

Aidan Higgins RIP

Aidan Higgins

It is with a heavy heart in my role of President of Galwegians Rugby Football Club that I write this brief tribute in memory of Aidan.

Having travelled widely in his rugby and professional life, he recently returned to Galwegians, the club that instilled his love of rugby.

I had the pleasure of hosting him as one of our special guests at our opening men’s AIL match on Saturday where he was seated beside me. I was immediately struck by his enthusiasm, his intellect and his vivacious sense of humour. He had us all enthralled with his hilarious tales of escapades from times previous.

I was convinced that he was going to be someone who was going to have a seismic impact on our club, and I was looking forward to spending lots of time with him over the upcoming season, only to have him tragically and suddenly taken from us the very next day.

On behalf of the club, I offer my condolences to his wife Julie, his children and his extended family. His memory will last long and proud within the gates of Crowley Park.

RIP Aidan, you were taken far too soon.

David Bouchier-Hayes, President, Galwegians RFC

Meet Stevie Mannion

Where are you from? Stevie Mannion

I’m originally from Ballinasloe.

When did you start playing rugby?

I played minis and underage with Ballinasloe as well as schools rugby with Garbally College. We won two Connacht Schools Senior Cups with Garbally, the most memorable probably when we beat the Jes when I was in 5th year. And I also won an U18.5 Connacht Cup in my final game for Ballinasloe.

Senior Career to Date

After school I moved to Buccaneers to play U20s and AIL. I played 1 season in division 2A and two seasons in division 1B.

Joining Wegians

I just started training with the club back in July, and I’ve been enjoying every minute of it.

I knew a handful of the lads before I joined just from playing against them all the way up, and it’s been very easy to get to know everyone else in the club.

Connacht Senior League Reflections?

I think the Connacht League went well overall, two close games against Sligo and Corinthians. We probably should have won both but we missed out by a couple points. Everything came together for the Buccaneers game and that’s given us a lot of confidence going into the AIL.

Your Position

I normally play 12. In the Connacht Senior League for Wegians, I started at 12 against Corinthians and Buccs, and played at 10 against Sligo. 12 would be my regular position and it would be my favourite too.

Thoughts on the AIL?

I’m really looking forward to getting into the AIL now, and hopefully we can carry on the success the club had last year.

Senior Players Awards Winners 2023-24

View the full gallery by Molina Oung or click on awardee names below

Women

Men’s U20s

Men’s Thirds

Men’s Seconds

Men’s Firsts

  • Player of the Year: Oisin Halpin  (absent)
  • Players’ Player of the Year: Garyn Daniel
  • Most Improved Player: Ryan Smith

Club Person of the Year

Galwegians RFC AGM on May 29th

Our club AGM will take place on the evening of Wed May 29th. As normal, this will be held in the clubhouse.

It has been formally advertised here and in local media, so all members are requested to attend.

The agenda will include a committee notice proposing that the club move to a corporate structure.

A new draft corporate constitution has been proposed, and is available to view on the club website.

U16 Bowl Final match story (AI)

AI-generated “match story”

In a thrilling encounter between Tuam and Galwegians, it was the Galwegians U16s who emerged victorious. The match was a showcase of skill, strategy, and sheer determination from both sides.

The first half saw Galwegians take an early lead with 14 points to Tuam’s 8. Dara Collins and Bren O’Byrne were the try scorers for Galwegians in the first half. Each try was expertly converted by Conor O’Reilly, demonstrating his precision under pressure.

As the second half commenced, Tuam made a remarkable comeback, scoring a try to take the lead at 15 – 14. The tension was palpable as both teams battled for dominance on the field.

However, Galwegians were not to be outdone. After a series of carries by the forwards, Barry Gavin crashed through the defence to score a crucial try, swinging the momentum back in favor of the Galwegians. Once again, Conor O’Reilly showcased his impeccable skills, converting the try to secure the lead for Galwegians.

The final whistle blew, marking the end of an intense and closely fought match, with Galwegians clinching the victory. This match was particularly significant as it marked the first trophy win for the Galwegians team.

This victory is a testament to the team’s hard work, dedication, and resilience of the whole squad and their coaches Gary, Tim, Jake & Byron. It is hoped that this win will serve as a catalyst, spurring the team on to new heights next season. The future certainly looks bright for this bunch of Galwegians.

Roy Keane was also asked to give his thoughts on the game

Look, it was a proper game of rugby between Tuam and Galwegians. No messing about. Galwegians were on the front foot right from the off, going into the break 14-8 up. Dara Collins and Bren O’Byrne, they put the points on the board, didn’t they? And Conor O’Reilly, cool as you like with the conversions. But let’s be clear, he was just doing his job.

Second half, Tuam showed some fight, didn’t they? Got their noses in front at 15-14. But this Galwegians side, they’ve got character. Barry Gavin, he’s not one to shy away from a challenge. Gets the try that puts Galwegians back in the lead. O’Reilly, again, spot on with the conversion.

So, the final whistle goes, and it’s Galwegians who are celebrating. First trophy win for them. You can’t underestimate what that means to a club. It’s a big moment.

But look, it’s all about what happens next, isn’t it? They’ve got to use this as a springboard. Can’t rest on their laurels. They’ve got to push on, aim higher next season. That’s the challenge for them now.

Mens U20s Mid-Season Update

Our challenging opening qualification campaign resulted in a narrow 31-29 loss to local city rivals Corinthians, meaning we unfortunately missed out on securing a spot in the JP Fanagan Premier 2 competition.

However, under the leadership of Captain Brian McHugo and Co-Captain Jack Quinn, our squad has demonstrated remarkable resilience and gone from strength to strength.

We started our league campaign by winning our first 5 league games in JP Flanagan Premier 3 consecutively. Notable features were dominant performances that included holding both Malahide and Coolmine to 0 tries against us.

Despite facing numerous injuries in key positions, our team exhibited great character and depth with players stepping up to play out of position.

The only setback in the first half of the league has been a narrow 24-19 defeat to Blackrock, a match where either team could have emerged victorious.

As we approach the Christmas break and halfway point in the league, we find ourselves only 3 points behind Blackrock in the standing thanks to bonus points earned. We are firmly in contention for the top spot in the New Year.

Anticipation is high for our upcoming rematch against Blackrock. Throughout the season, we have delivered an exciting brand of rugby, scoring an impressive 224 points over 6 games.

We aim to continue our style in 2024 when we face Naas away in our first fixture on January 14th.

Club Constitution Information Evening on Feb 8th 2024

Galwegians RFC (“the Club”)  is presently an unincorporated association.  It operates under a constitution which provides that the property of the Club shall be held by the Trustees of the Club. The present constitution provides that the Trustees “shall be not  less than two and not more than five in number”.

Presently, there are three  Trustees namely Peter Crowley,  Michael Deacy and Billy Glynn.  These Trustees have acted diligently on behalf of the Club for many years and two of them now wish to retire.

For liability and other reasons it is more appropriate that any unincorporated association, such as the Club, would operate as a corporate structure.   The present Board of Management of the Club propose that the Club should move in this direction.

This would mean that the present structure would be wound up,  that a company limited by guarantee would be formed and that this company will take over the operations, activities, assets and liabilities of the Club.

It is proposed to hold an information evening in relation to this proposed change on  Thursday 8 February 2024 at 8 p.m. in Crowley Park with a view to holding a Special General Meeting (“SGM”) some weeks later for the purpose of moving to a corporate structure. 

The matters to be dealt with at the SGM would be:

  1. The approval of a new corporate constitution.
  2. Authorisation to immediately incorporate a new company limited by guarantee.
  3. The dissolution of the present Club structure
  4. The transfer of the operations, activities, membership, assets and liabilities of the Club to the new corporate entity.

All members are invited to attend the information evening on Thursday 8 February 2024 to discuss this extremely important step for the future of the Club.

Draft new constitution is available for viewing and download below.

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